What's
in a
Name?

After printing was introduced during the 15th century, the spelling of many common words was standardised.  The spelling of placenames however was still subject to wide variation but had settled into a standard form by the 20th century, although in some cases the pronunciation continued to evolve.

There were of course other reasons for placenames to change.   Bridlington, for example was in two distinct parts.  Bridlington Quay (or Key) was on the coast, whilst further inland the area around the Priory Church was often known as Burlington.  When the railway arrived in Bridlington / Burlington, the station was roughly half way between the two and so a decision had to be made as to its name.   Bridlington won and that is the name the town now bears.

Nowadays, placenames are fixed and anything which is spelled or pronounced differently is 'incorrect'.  However, in some places you may still hear older people continuing to pronounce local placenames as their parents and grandparents did.

The following is a list of some East Riding placenames and their pronunciation.  Words in brackets indicate an older pronunciation which has all but died out.

• Aike - (Yak, also sometimes referred to as YakabackaArram from its close proximity to Arram)
• Aldbrough - Ollbr'
• Atwick - Attik
• Baswick - Bazzik
• Bessingby - Bezzingby
• Beswick - Bezzik
• Bransholme - Branzome
• Brantingham - see below
• Brough - Bruff
• Bubwith - Bubbith
• Burlington, now Bridlington - (Bollit'n or Bolli'n)
• Burton - (Bot'n) as is many compound names eg Bishop Burton, Burton Agnes etc
• Burstwick - (Bostwick)
• Catwick - Cattik
• Cottingham - see below
• Elloughton - Ellert'n
• Flamborough - see below
• Hessle - Hezz'l
• Holmpton - Hompt'n
• Hornsea - as it's spelt, sometomes mis-pronounced as Hornzee
• Keyingham - Kaying'm (Kenning'm)
• Kilnwick - Killik
• Leven - Leev'n
• Londesborough - see below
• Routh - (Ruth)
• Skirlaugh - Skerlaw
• Sutton - see below
• Thearne (Thee-ann, the Th is pronounced as in the word thief)
• Wawne - Worn
• Weighton - Weet'n, as in Market and Little Weighton
• Welwick - Wellik
• Withernsea - sometimes pronounced Witherunsee

Common endings of placenames:

• Those which end in -ham, eg Brantingham and Cottingham are usually pronounced Branting'm and Cotting'm.
• Those which end in -ton, eg Sutton and are pronounced Sutt'n or even Su'n.
• Those which end in -brough or -borough, eg Flamborough and Londesborough are pronounced Flambr' and Lonsbr'.

If you would like to add any other East Riding placenames to the list, drop me an e-mail.